This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

That a little-known GOP congressional staffer has a real chance to win Utah's electoral votes has brought the state heightened attention from Donald Trump's campaign and frustration from his backers.

Among those: Fox Business Network personality Lou Dobbs.

Of Provo native and Mormon Evan McMullin, Dobbs wrote Saturday on Twitter: "Look Deeper, He's nothing but a Globalist, Romney and Mormon Mafia Tool #MAGA #AmericaFirst #TrumpPence16 #TrumpTrain #Dobbs."

Seeing his mentions, Dobbs might have wished he'd heeded Michael Corleone's advice to "never let anyone know what you're thinking."

Many Utahns, Mormons, political pundits and others branded Dobbs' tweet as bigotry and responded in the time-honored social media tradition of fighting fire with facetiousness.

Thursday morning, more than 19,000 tweets had included #MormonMafia, which gained traction overnight and was trending on Twitter in Salt Lake City.

Among the takes that Twitter rated "Top" for this reporter's #MormonMafia search:

Dobbs' accusation drew a confession from Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, one of the prominent Mormon pols who have declined to endorse Trump.

And McMullin hinted at having expanded the organization.

Dobbs also tweeted about a "Mormon Mafia" on Oct. 8. A search of the term's use prior to this month suggests it's rooted in the fervent opposition to Trump expressed by 2012 Republican presidential nominee and Mormon Mitt Romney.

According to Google's numbers, interest in the term also spiked during the runup to Election Day 2012.

Also apropos, from BYUtv's "Studio C" sketch comedy show, "Message From Above" (h/t @drumphinator):